Electric-current regulator.



PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

0. H. & A. P'. PIEPER. ELEGTRIO CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILE-D mi. '1. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

X f b J gmitweao uo No. 835,763. PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

. 0. H. 6: A. F. PIEPER.

v ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

0. H. & A. F. PIEPBR. ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.7. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEIET 3.

PATENTED NOV. 13, 1906.

.O. H. & A. P. PIEPER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1906. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

w w x a W n m PM a W W a QM*@MWL ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

rrnrTnn sTaTns PATENT @FFTCE.

USUAR H. PTEPER AND ALPHONSE F. PTEPER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

sreernndouseenr enema-roe.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed February i, 1906. Serial No. 299,993- 1 Improvementsin Electric-Current Regulators; and we do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, referencebeing'had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thespecification, and to the reference-characters marked thereon.

Our present invention relates to improvements in regulators orcontrollers for electric currents, and is more especially adapted to theregulation of the speed of dental and other small motors; and it has forits object to provide a device of this kind the parts of which are soconstructed and arranged within a protective casing that they may bereadily removed and replaced with the greatest facility and without thenecessity of disturbing the electrical or other connections between theparts and to provide an improved device for positioning thecontroller-arm in different adjusted positions and to provide otherfeatures of improvement on regulators of the type covered by LettersPatent No. 675,294, granted May 28, 1901.

To these and other ends the invention consists'in certain new and usefulimprovements and .combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter morefully explained, the novel features being pointed out in the claims atthe end of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of aregulator constructed in accordance with our invention.

FigifiZ represents a top plan view of the same with the uppercover-plate removed. Fi 3' is a' bottom plan view of the device wit thelower cover-plate removed. Fig. 4 represents a sectionon the line 4'4 ofFig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 5 shows anunderneath view of the controllerplate, showing the electricconnections. Fig.

6 is a view of the resistance devices and the controller-plate removedbodily from the casing. Fig. 7 is a-top plan view of thecontroller-plate and its coiiperatingcontrollerarm, parts being omittedfor clearness. Fig. 8 is a top plan view, of a modified form ofregulator. Fi 9 represents a side elevation of thedevice s own in Fig.8. Fig. 10 represents a section on' the line 10 10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 isa detail view of'one of the connections removed from the controller.Fig. 12 shows a portion of the regulator with the improved positioningdevice for the controller-arm, and Fig. 13 is a detail view of theterminal or binding post.

Similar reference-characters figures indicate similar parts.

The present embodiment of our invention comprises a casing 1, preferablyof annular form, having upper and lower'cover-plates 2 in the severaland 3 secured at its top and bottom, re-

spectively, by means of screws or other devices, to permit theirremoval, andwithin the casing between these upper and lower cover-platesa pair of'shoulders 4 are pro vided to serve as supports fortheessential parts of the regulator.

The regulator employed may be of any suitable type, that s own in Figs.1 to 7, inclusive, embodying a frame 5, removably secured by screws orother devices to the lower sides of the shoulders 4 of the casing andsupporting a resistanceset 6. This re-' sistance set in the presentinstance is made up of a series of resistance-coils 7, formed bywrapping resistance-wire over flat plates of slate or other suitableinsulating material 8, the.coils thus formed being superposed one u onthe other to form a pack having sheets. of mica or other insulatingmaterial 9 to separate adjacent coils. of the series. These superposedcoils are held securely between a pair of-clamping-plates 10 and 11, thelatter being secured together by-screws 12 and the;

plate 10 being in turn secured to the frame 5 by means of the screws 13so that the entire resistance set is carried by the frame 5. The lowerplate 11 serves as a support for a series of binding or terminal partsA, 13,0, D, E, F, G, and H, respectively, to which the appropriateterminals in the leading-in wires are connected, the t rminals A, D, E,F, and G being attached in the present instance to theircorrespondingterminals A, D, E, F, and G, respectively, andtheseterminals are.

extended to the exterior of, the casing and to the motor or other deviceto be regulated by means of the conducting-cord 14, a suitable packingor tight joint being formed between this cord and the regulator-casingby means of a suitable insulating-bushing 15, fitted into acorrespondingly formed recess 16, which extends into the casing from thelower edge thereof,"screws 17 serving to detachably secure this bushingin the wall of the cas'ingf in positic 1.

The detachable frame 5 also carries the stationary controller-contacts,the controller being in the present instance similar to that shown anddescribed in the patent hereinbefore mentioned, it being thereforeunnecessary to describe it in detail herein, except to say that itcomprises generally an insulatingdisk 18, secured tothe frame by screws19 and having on its upper surface the groups or sets of contactsarranged to cooperate with a rotatable control1er-arm 20, the latterbeing made up of two insulated brush-carrying members 21 and 22,carrying pairs of brushes 23 24 and 25 26, respectively. This controller-arm is fixed to an operating-shaft 27, the latter beingjournaled in a bearing 28 on the frame 5, the upper end of this shaftbeing iournaled in a bearing 29 on the plate 30, the atter beingremovably secured by screws or otherwise to the upper side of theshoulders 4 on the casing-walls. The brush 23 of the controller-arm isadapted to cooperate with a set of controller-contacts 31, while thebrush 24 is arranged to cooperate with the contacts 32, the circuitbeing completed between the brushes 23 and 24 through the member 21 onthe controller arm. The brush 25 is arranged to cooperate with a set ofcontacts 33, while the brush 26 cooperates with a set of contacts 34,the circuit between the brushes 25 and 26 being completed through theirsupporting member 22 on the controller-arm. The present form ofcontroller is adapted to a reversible motor, the groups of contacts 33and 34 being employed for reversing the polarity of the current flowingthrough the motor-armature, while the groups of contacts 31 and 32 areemployed for varying the amount of resistance inserted in the circuit,the dot-- ted line a: as of Fig. 7 indicating the median line which thecontacts occupy when in neutral position, all as will be more fullyunder- ,stood by reference to the Letters Patent aforesaid; but as thispart of the regulator is not claimed herein a general description willbe sufficient for an understanding of the present invention.

In order to simplify the various connections between the terminal partsfor the lineterminals and their corresonding contacts on the controller,it is pre'erable to employ connecting-bars, such as shown in Figs. 5, 6,and 1 1, which are made up, preferably, of sheet metal in stamped form,having eyes at opposite ends to receive the fastening-screws of thebinding posts or terminals, the connections between the terminal postson the plate 11 and the contact-plates on the disk 18 being formed withangular bends to clear the resistance-coils and other parts, and as therelative positions and distances between the terminal posts and theircorresponding contact-plates is different in each instance and eachconnecting-bar is of a particular form in length one is not liable toconfusion in making these connections, as each connection will only fitbetween its pro er terminal osts.

The regulator shown in .igs."8, 9, an 10 is similar in most respects tothat first described, except that the resistance-coils are constructedand arranged in a different way and the regulator is adapted forcontrolling alternating currents. In this instance the frame 35,corresponding to the frame 5 in the previous construction, has a pair ofoppositely-arranged brackets 36 and 37, detachably secured thereto bymeans of screws 38, the brackets each having a row of inwardlyextendingprojections arranged to rest in apertures in a set of spools 39, thelatter being formed of lava or other suitable insulating materialsurrounded by resistance-coils 40, a plate 41 being secured in thesebrackets by means of screws 42 and serving to support the terminal postsfor the conductor-terminals.

In each form of controller shown and described the respective frames 5and 35 serve as a support having the controller-contacts and theresistance-coils in fixed relation thereto, so that the relation betweenthe controller-contacts and the binding-posts which have electricalconnections with the resistance-coils remains fixed, and therefore theconnections between these parts will not be disturbed whenever the frame5 or 35, as the case may be, is applied to and removed from the casing,and as the bushing 15, surrounding the conductor-cord 14, is removablyfitted into the recess 16, which extends upwardly from the lower openedge of the easing, removal of the resistance and controller contactsfrom the casing may be accomplished by unfastening this bushing andwithdrawing it from its recesses in the casing, so that all of the partsof the controller or regulator may be removed bodily without disturbingany of the mechanical or electrical connections, permitting inspectionto be made of the parts while they are in exactly the same condition asthey were within the easing.

The shaft 27, carrying the controller-arm, has a treadle 43 fixedthereto, preferably above the plate 30, parts of the treadle extendingthrough segmental recesses 44 and 45 in the casing and having portionsadapted to be actuated by the operators foot to bring thecontroller-brushes to rest upon the desired contacts. When, as in thepresent instance, the controller is adapted for use in connection with areversible motor, it is desirable to provide means which normallyoperate to return the controller-arm automatically to central or neutralposition, and the means employed for this purpose in the resent instanceembody generally a pair 0 oppositely-arranged arms 46 and 47, having atension-spring 48 normally operating to draw them together against acentral stop 49, as

shown in Fig. 2, a projection 50 on the treadle operating either one orthe other of these arms against the tension of the spring when thecontroller-arm is moved in either direction from its central position,the springarms thus provided tending to return the treadle to normalposition as soon as it is released from the foot of the operator.However, in order to avoid the necessity of retaining the foot againstthe treadle when it is desirable to keep the motor on a given speed fora considerable period of time I provide an improved device forpositioning and holding the controller-arm at the difierent degrees ofrotation corresponding to the different speeds, the device cooperatingwith the spring-operated arms to normally overcome the action thereof,but adapted to yield when a positive force is applied to the treadle to1 A spring 55, surrounding the pivot 53 and having its opposite endsbearing on the pins 56 and 57 of the res ective arms, serves to forcethe latter against t .e roller or projection 54 on the treadle as thelatter is rotated into the different positions, so that when the saidroller or projection approaches one of the recesses the action of thespring 55 will move the corresponding arm against the projection withsufficient force that the inclined sides of the recess will operate tocenter the roller or proj ection therein, andthus hold the controllerarmin operative position but of course if a positive force is applied tothe treadle to move it in either direction the projection on the treadlewill be dislodged from the recess .to permit the treadle tobefinovedinto a different position. x

By providing the screws or equivalent devices 68 these spring-arms maybe thrown out of operative position, and therefore the treadle will bereturned to normal position as soon as it is released from the foot ofthe operator. The treadle with the automatic centering device and theoperating-shaft 27 with the controller arm and brushes are preferablyattached together and carried bodily by the detachable plate 30, so thatby unfastening the plate 30 these parts can be removed bodily from thecasing independently of the remainder of the regulator, and consequentlywithout disturbing the electrical connections of the controller, andabove the plate 30 is fitted the removable top plate 2,

be readily which serves to cover and protect the treadle-operatingparts, the operating ends of the treadle which extend through thesegmental recess 44 and 45 being the only parts of the regulator exposedat the exterior of the casing.

It is generally preferable to so construct the regulator as to controlthe speed in both directions when the device is employed as amotor-regulator; but it will be understood that the controller may bemade single or non-reversible by rearrangementof thecontroller-contacts, and in this case it would be necessary to use onlyone each of the arms for operating and positioning the treadle insteadof two, as shown.

The connectors, such as shown in Fig. 11, may be used with particularlygood results in a regulator of this kind for electrically connecting theterminal posts with their corresponding contacts of the controller, theapertured attaching-lugs 58 and 59 being 'se curely clamped beneath theheads of the screws or nutsto provide good electrical contacts, whilethe portions of the lugs encircling the screw or other part of the postpreventtheir displacement from beneath the screw head or nut, and byforming the bends, such as at the points 60, 61, 62, and 63, theseconnections clear the intervening parts of the controller, and byforming them of materialof sufficient stiffness to retain their form itis unnecessary to cover them with insulating material, and thisfacilitates an inspection of the controller-circuits when such isnecessary. A novel terminal or binding post is shown ICC in Figs. 1 and13, which is particularly adapt- A ed for use in connecting theterminals or leadconductors to the regulator, the bared end of theconductor or terminal being extended around a circumferential groove 64,formed in an attaching-ring 65, the free end of the conductor beingpreferably extended entirely around the ring and then wrapped or woundabout the conductor beyond the ring to prevent unwinding of theconductor from the ring, and with the conductor end so Wrapped andsecured 'on said ring it is soldered thereto, preferably at a point 66removed from the point where the conductor joins the ring. A' terminalwith an attaching-ring secured thereto in such a way may attached to aterminal or binding post by passing a screw 67 therethrough, anterminals attached to terminal posts in this manner avoid theinconvenience of wrapping the loose conductor end about the post, as iscustomary, and are also proof against breaking of the conductor fromconstant bending" and strain at its point of attachment, as the bendingof the conductor takes place through a longer portion of the conductorinstead of at a given point, and therefore liability of breakage of theterminal is reduced to a minimum.

ITO

We claim as our invention 1. In an electric-current regulator, thecombination with a casing, of a frame detachably mounted in said casing,a resistance set and sWitch-contacts removable from the bottom of thecasing bodily with said frame, connections between the said set andcontacts, and a supporting-plate carrying. a switch or controller-armarranged to cooperate with said contacts and removable from the top ofthe casing, and supports formed in the casing between the said frame andplate.

2. In an electric-current controller, the combination with a casing, ofa frame detachably secured within said casing, a resistance set andcontroller-contacts secured in fixed relation on said frame, connectionsbetween said set and contacts, said set, contacts and their connectionsbeing removable bodily with said frame, and a rotatable switch orcontroller-arm having brushes arranged to cooperate with said contactsthe said frame and arm being independently removable from the casing byrelative movement in the direction of the axis of said arm.

3. In an electric-current regulator, the combination with a casing, of acontroller detachably mounted therein, a conductor having connectionswith said controller and extending through an open recess in the wall ofsaid casing to permit removal of said conductor and controller bodilyfrom the casing without the necessity of disconnecting them.

4. In an electric-current regulator, the combination with a casinghaving an opening therein and a recess extending into the walls thereoffrom said opening, of a controller fitted within said casing and havinga portion thereof removable through said opening, and a conductorresting in said recess of the casing and connected to the removableportion of the controller.

5. The combination with a hollow casing having an opening therein, and arecess extending into the wall of the casing from said opening, of acontroller arranged within said casing having a portion adapted to beremoved. through said opening, a bushing removably fitted in saidrecess, and a conductor extending into said casing through said bushingand having termina connections with said controller.

6. In a regulator, the combination with a pivoted member having aprojection thereon, and contacts controlled by the movement of saidmember, of a positioning device for said member embodying an arm pivotedat a point approximately in the path of said projection and havingrecesses or notches therein arranged to be engaged thereby and a springoperating on said arm to retain the notched portions in cooperativerelation with said projection.

7. In a regulator, the combination with a pivoted member and contactscontrolled by esavea the movement thereof, of a centering devicenormally tending to operate said member, and a positioning device forholding said member in adjusted position against the action of saidcentering device embodying an arm having recesses or notches thereon,and a projection on said member arranged to cooperate with said recessesand means for yieldingly operating said arm to retain the notchedportion thereof in cooperative relationi with said projection.

8. In a controller, the combination with a pivoted member having aprojection thereon, and contacts controlled by the movement of saidmember, of a positioning device for said member embodying copivotal armshaving recesses or notches thereon to cooperate with the projection onsaid member and means operating said arms in a direction to hold therecessed portions thereof in cooperative rela tion with said projection.

9. In a controller, the combination with a casing supporting a pivotedmember, and contacts controlled by the movement of said member, of apositioning device 'for said member embodying copivotal recessed armshaving a spring supported by the pivot and engaging the arms on one ofthe parts, and a projection on the other part arranged to cooperate withthe recessed portions of said arms.

10. In a regulator, the combination with a pivoted member, and contactscontrolled by the movement thereof, of a positioning device foryieldingly holding said member in different operative positions, andmeans for throwing said positioning device out of operative condition.

11. In a regulator, the combination with a pivoted member, and contactscontrolled by the movement thereof, of a positioning device for saidmember embodying a springoperated arm pivoted on one of the parts andhaving recesses thereon, a projection on another part arranged tocooperate with the recesses of said arm, and a device for moving saidarm out of cooperative relation with said projection.

12. In an electric-current regulator, the combination with asupporting-frame, a disk arranged at one side of the frame and providedwith switch-contacts, a resistance set arranged at the opposite side ofthe frame, and a plate attached to the resistance set having portionsthereon extending beyond the edges of said frame and carrying terminalposts for the resistance set, of connectors arranged between the saidposts and their respective switchcontacts each embodying, asubstantially rigid conductor having one end attached to the post on theextension of said plate, an intermediate portion extending transverselyof the supporting-frame, and having its opposite end connected to itsappropriate switch-contact on the said disk.

I 13. In an electric-current controller, the l combination with acasing, and an annular shoulder formed therein, ofa sup ortingframesecured against the said shoufder and having segmental recesses formedin its edge, a disk arranged at one side of the said frame andprovided'with a set of switch-contacts, a resistance set arranged at theopposite side of the said frame, and connectors arranged between thesaid contacts and the resistance set embodying rigid conductors havingintermediate portions extending through the recessed portions of theframe in directions transverse of the latter.

14. In an electric-current controller, the combination with a hollowcasing open at the top and bottom, and up er and lower annular shouldersformed t erein, of a frame adapted to enter the bottom of the casing andhaving means for securing it to the lower of said shoulders, aresistance set carried by the said frame, a disk attached to the saidframe and provided with a set of switch-contacts, and electricalconnections between the said contacts and the resistance set, a plateadapted to enter the top of the casing, and secured against the uppershoulder, a shaft journaled in said plate, a switch-arm on said shaftcarrying brushes arranged to cooperate with the switch-contacts, and anoperating member connected to the said shaft.

OSCAR H. PIEPER. ALPHONSE F. PIEPER.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE A. BATEMAN, G. WILLARD R1011.

